NURSES’ ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1940, Page 7

NURSES’ ASSOCIATION

WAIRARAPA BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa branch of the New Zealand Re gistered Nurses’ Association was held in the Country Women’s Club last evening. There was a large attendance of members. The guests of the evening were Miss Bridges, Nurse Instructor of the Health Department, Mrs Donner, Dominion Secretary of the Registered Nurses’ Association. Mrs Jordan (Mayoress of Masterton), and the following representatives of the various women's organisations: Miss Kummer. Miss Whitehouse. Mrs Caselberg. and Miss M. Diggins, student nurses from the Masterton Hospital and members of the Carterton group. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Miss Lambie (Director of Nursing), Miss McKenny (Dominion President of the R.N.A.), and Mrs S. Fletcher, member of the Wairarapa Hospital Board. ' Miss Barnett (president) extended a welcome to the visitors. In presenting the annual report and balance sheet of the Wairarapa branch, Miss Barnett complimented the members on the very successful year and outlined the activities of the association, stating that the attendance at the monthly meetings had been most satisfactory. Instructive lectures had been given and the association had' established a class for instruction in war time emergencies. In this connection valuable assistance was given by Dr Parr and Dr O’Connor. The annual report and balance sheet was adopted. The election of the executive council resulted: — Miss M. F. Barnett, Miss L. Higginson, Mrs W. James, Miss M. M. Brown, Miss N. Cocker, Mrs Forsyth, Miss K. Kerins. Mrs J. Donald, Miss H. Grant, Miss T. Hughes, Mrs A. Stewart, Miss K. Robinson and Miss E. Houlbrooke (president Student Nurses). Miss Pearson.' president of the Student Nurses’ Group, presented the annual report of that group. Mrs Donner presented to Nurse R. James a prize won by her for an essay on "Case Study of Nursing of a Chronic Heart Disease.” The prize is given by the Educational Committee of the N.Z.R.N.A. All second and third year nurses at the various training schools compete for this prize. Each school is awarded a winner and the winning essays are forwarded to Wellington where they are re-judged for the Florence Nightingale lamp competition which is held by the School at which the Dominion winner attended Last year the Masterton School winner was placed third in the Dominion and the winner this year was highly commended.

Miss Bridges gave a most interesting address under the heading “The Value of Post-graduate Study,” and Mrs Donner also addressed the meeting on the aims of the association. Both speakers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Wairarapa Hospital Board for hospitality at monthly meetings, to the sisters at the hospital for the use of their room, to the president and secretary. Miss Meredith, for articles, to the hon auditor, the Press, and to Mrs McKenzie and Miss Meredith for acting as scrutineers for the ballot of officials.

Occasion was taken to bid farewell to two members of the Wairarapa branch who are going overseas, in the persons of Miss Bakewell, of the Masterton Hospital, and Miss Joan Bunny, of Masterton. Miss Higginson, matron of the Greytown Hospital, on behalf of the association, wished them success and a safe return. She handed each nurse a Nurses’ Text Book. Miss Bakewell replied on behalf of herself and Miss Bunny. Miss Bakewell also received a parting gift from the student nurses. Miss Kerins presented Miss Brown, secretary to the association, with a small token in appreciation of the valuable services she has rendered in this capacity. Mrs W. James, on behalf of the members of the association, presented a handsome mirror to be hung in the sisters’ sitting room at the hospital. The gift was made in acknowledgment of their assistance at the monthly meetings. Mrs Ogilvie and Miss Denise Mahoney contributed vocal items which were greatly appreciated.